Box



July 9, 1935.

Filed Aug. 23, 1934 w. E. BRELSFORD BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gpyz.

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Attorney July 9, w. E. Bl RELSFORD 2,007,740

BOX

Filed Aug 23, 1934 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 /66 i v Inventor 35 WaZZz an fifirelsforaf Attorney Patented July 9, 1 935 PATENT OFFICE- BOX William E. Brelsfori Mendota, Ill. Application'August .23, 1934, Serial No. 741,154

6 Claims. (01. 2229- 9) This invention relates to boxes and more particularly to boxes: of the type having an. outer shell within which is slidable a tray, and which are commonly used .as containers for matches.

The invention consists inthe prov-isionof simpic means for ready application to a box of this character tending :to normally retain the box closed, that is, with the tray confined within the shell, thus making the :box especially desirable .as acontainer for safety matches, as the tend ency of the tray to move inwardly of the shell when a match is extracted from the shell will tend to reduce greatly the hazard of fire as sometimes results from an ignition of all the matches in the tray due to carelessness and sometimes accident on the part of the user.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

I Figure 1 is a top plan view of a box embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a corner portion of the box.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of a third form of the invention.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of afourth form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view through a corner portion of the box shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that in all forms of the invention the box embodies a rectangular outer shell I0, within which a tray I I is adapted to slide.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, each of the end walls of the tray I I has detachably engaged therewith a clip indicated generally by the reference numeral I2. The clip I2 is formed from a single length of wire bent, shaped and dimensioned to provide a relatively wide U-shaped frame having sides I3 bent upon themselves as at I3a to provide hooks adapted to engage over the upper edge of the end wall of the tray as suggested in Figures 3 and 4. The hookforming sides I3 are connected by a bar I4 and the ends of the sides I3 integral with the bar I4 are bent upon themselves reversely with respect to the bends I3a to provide sleeve-like portions I5 that accommodate a rubber band I6 in a mannerclear from a study of Figures 3 and 4.

As shown Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the band I6 is twisted so as to have opposite portions thereof extending diagonally across the bottom of the shell II] of the box as clearly shown in Figure 2 while the opposite end portions of the band are '5 engaged with the (clips 42 being received in the sleeves I5 as shown. With the clips IL-and band l6 thus applied-to the box itwill be apparent that the band I6 will have a tendency to yieldablyurgethe tray II in- 10 wardly of its shell II] at all times for normally retaining the box in a closed condition.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 the clip therein designated by the reference numeral I2a comprises a metallic plate I? pro- 15 vided at one edge with tongues I8 that are adapted to be bent over the upper edge of the tray I I for securing the plate I? to the end wall of the tray at the outer side of the tray.

At said edge and inwardly from the fingers IS, the plate I! has formed integrally therewith sleeves I9 through which are passed an end portion of the rubber band I600 which band has its opposite portions disposed diagonally across the bottom of the shell ID in the same manner as shown and described with regard to the first form of the invention. Obviously, in this form of the invention, the band I6a will also tend to normally retain the tray II in closed position within the shell II].

In the third form 'of the invention, and as shown in Figure 6, clips such as hereinbefore described are dispensed with and the end walls of the tray II at the corners thereof are provided with diagonal slots or slits 20 with which the end portions of the rubber band are engaged in a manner clearly shown in Figure 6 so that the rubber band therein indicated by the reference numeral IBb will act on the tray in a manner to normally and yielda'bly retain the same within its shell I0.

In the fourth form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 each end wall of the tray II is provided with a clip indicated generally by the reference numeral I20, and each clip I20 consists of a metallic plate 2! of slightly less dimensions than the end wall of the tray, and. like the clips I2 the plate 2I is provided at its upper edge and at its corners with spring fingers 22 that are adapted to be clinched over the upper edge of the end wall of the tray. At said upper edge and extending between the fingers 22, the plate 2! is provided with an integral'single elongated sleeve 23 through which an end portionof the rubber band I extends as shown in Figures '7 and 8. 5

In this form of the invention, the band I60 will tend to yieldably retain the tray within its shell I0.

What is claimed is:

1. In a box, a shell, and a tray slidable therein, clips on the end walls of the tray, and an endless band extending across one wall of the shell and having opposite end portions connected with the clips, said tray being adapted to be projected outwardly of the shell at either end thereof and said band acting to normally retain the tray inwardly of the shell at either end thereof.

2. In a box, a shell, and a tray slidable therein, transverse metallic elements mounted on the end walls of the tray externally of the latter, and an elastic band extending longitudinally of the shell and having opposite end portions extending transversely of the end walls of the tray, and

means on said elements engaging said ends of theband and connecting said tray with said ends of the band.

3. In a box, a shell, and a tray slidable therein, said tray having opposite end walls thereof provided with sleeves, and an elastic band extending longitudinally of the shell and having opposite end portions engaged in said sleeves.

4. A match box comprising a shell, a tray freely slidable within the shell and having end walls, and an endless elastic band extending longitudinally of the shell, said band having opposite portions thereof extending diagonally between the corners of the shell and having end portions engaged with the end walls of the tray and extending across said end walls from substantially one side to the other of the tray adjacent the upper edges of said end walls, and means on said end walls adjacent the side edges thereof engaging the band and holding said ends of the band in said extended position across said end walls of the tray.

5. In a match box, a shell, a tray freely slidable in the shell and having end walls, a clip on each of said end walls, each clip formed from a single length of wire and comprising a substantially U-shaped body having sides and a closed end, U-shaped bends connecting said sides with the closed end, and said sides having reversely bent free ends to engage over the upper edge of the tray wall, and an elastic band extending longitudinally of the bottom of the shell and having end portions engaging in the bends connecting the sides of the respective clips with the closed end of said clips.

6. In a match box, a shell, a tray freely slidable therein and provided with end walls, a plate carried by each end wall, said plate having tongues engaging over the end edge of the associated end wall of the tray, and a sleeve integral with said plate, and an elastic band extending longitudinally of the shell and having end portions engaged in the sleeves of the plates.

WILLIAM E. BRELSFORD. 

